1. Sharpen the blade. 

Keep your mower blades sharp throughout the season. Dull blades rip the grass tips instead of cutting. This makes the lawn look off-color and promotes disease. 

2. Mowing your lawn. 

As a rule of thumb never mow more than 2” or 3” of grass off of the top at any one time. Never mow your lawn closer than 1” from the ground. You will inevitably “scalp” areas that are uneven and cause many more problems. As a rule, mow closer in spring and fall (1-2”) and taller in summer (3”). 

3. Rake up your leaves.

Unless they are finely chopped, leaves and grass do not mix. Letting leaves collect and lay on your lawn for extended periods can cause thin spots or even completely kill out an area if they are thick enough. 

4. Be cautious of compaction.

Compacted soils are really the only thing, besides weeds and insects, that would keep a lawn from being thick and free of thin spots.

5. Avoid walking on wet lawns as much as possible, and do not drive on your lawn if you can avoid it. Periodically aerating your lawn in the Spring or Fall is a good idea, or you can use Humic DG Soil Conditioner products that naturally work to loosen heavy soil. This eliminates compaction and the lack of oxygen in the soil. 

6. Watering should be done once a week, the equivalent of 1” of rain. During the heat of the summer, this may need to be done twice a week. The best time to water is in the morning.